Heaven Is For Real - Book Review

A friend of mine suggested that we read the book "Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back".  I was not overly excited about reading it, but I added my name to the long waiting list at the library and forgot about it.  The day before we left on vacation, my name came up on the list for an mp3 audio checkout of the book.  I downloaded it and planned to listen to it on my ipod when it was my turn to drive.  Once I started listening, however, I couldn't stop.  I really enjoyed it. More than I thought I would. 

I was a bit of a skeptic because the book is written by the boy's father, Todd Burpo, who just happens to be a church pastor.  I didn't want to hear preaching about living a good life to get into heaven.  It was not like that at all.  Mr. Burpo shared the events of his 4-year old son's illness and his family's struggles, all without a preaching tone.  He did share passages from the bible that he recalled when his son spoke of specific things, but I appreciated hearing those connections.  It reminded me that I DO know a lot about the bible and scripture, and maybe those six years of Catholic education were not a complete waste. 

Since finishing the book, I have found myself saying quick prayers here and there for other people.  According to Colton Burpo, God and the angels are listening.  Who am I to disagree with him?  As a child, my prayers seemed to be more like wishes than prayers - "God, I would love a new bike" or "God, a Ken doll would be so fun to play with".  As a young adult, they were selfish prayers - "help me do well on this exam"; "please don't let them cash that check before I get paid"; "I really don't want my parents to know that I did that". 

Then I stopped praying for a long time.  It didn't seem like it mattered.  Was anyone really up there listening to me?  Colton Burpo says someone is listening.  But he says they listen harder to the prayers offered up for others.  Since listening to this story, I started praying again, but I am focusing my prayers on others.  I pray for my friend from high school battling cancer.  I pray for an acquaintance who will have a double mastectomy next week. I pray for a family member undergoing heart surgery.  

I'm sure I will still offer up prayers for myself.  And I would be willing to bet they will be selfish or sound like wishes from time to time:

"Dear God, please let my son follow directions today.  All day.  The first time he hears the direction."

Hopefully I will remember Colton's message and trust in a power higher than myself.  And maybe, somehow, I will be listening closely enough to hear an answer to my prayers from time to time.